Observe these two spirit houses. They look very similar but are not the same thing at all. Do you know the difference? The spirit house on the left is called “San Pra Poom” and although its looks may vary, it is almost always distinguished by placement on a single pillar. It is usually placed fairly high (the exact height is within a range deemed acceptable by the officiating Brahmin priest), and it is an abode for guardian angels.

The spirit house on the right is called “San Jao Tii”, and its notable features are that it is closer to the ground, has a ladder from the ground to the house, and is supported by stilts. A “San Jao Tii” is an abode for lord spirits of the land, who may assist in matters of commerce and protection. Often, places will have both a San Pra Phum and a San Jao Tii. The hierarchy of the guardian angels is demonstrated by the higher position of the San Pra Phum.